Pentagon chief in favor of deploying U.S. missiles to Asia

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday that he was in favor of deploying ground-based missiles to Asia, a day after the United States formally pulled out of a Cold Warera arms treaty that directly limited such weapons.

Esper, speaking to reporters on his way to Australia, said he would like to see the deployment within months.

Such a move would be likely to anger China and North Korea, and most likely prompt further consternation from allies that Washington was veering dangerously close to starting a new arms race.